New Delhi: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was detained at Paris’ Le Bourget airport on Saturday morning following his arrival from Baku. The arrest stems from an ongoing investigation into allegations that Telegram has been used for criminal activities, including fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, promotion of terrorism, and cyberbullying.
French authorities issued an arrest warrant accusing Durov of failing to adequately address the misuse of his platform. Telegram has faced criticism for its moderation practices and lack of end-to-end encryption by default. The company has been accused of not enforcing stricter moderation and allegedly not cooperating with law enforcement.
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In response to the arrest, Telegram defended its practices and compliance with EU laws. The company stated, “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation.”
Durov’s arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing legal scrutiny of Telegram. The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for the messaging app’s operations in Europe and beyond.
